Call Processing in a Voicemail System

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method that involves receiving an indication that communications with a subscriber have been interrupted while engaged in voicemail processing, and recording a pointer to a last state of voicemail processing. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to voicemail systems and morespecifically to call processing in a voicemail system.

BACKGROUND

When a subscriber calls a voicemail system and the call is dropped(e.g., a cellular telephone of the subscriber experiences a null incommunication coverage), the subscriber typically redials and startsvoicemail processing from a fresh start. Similarly, when a subscriber isin the midst of listening to a voicemail message and the subscriberreceives another call and places the voicemail system on hold, thevoicemail system typically continues presentation of the voicemailmessage unabated. When the subscriber returns to the voicemail system,the subscriber is generally forced to replay the voicemail message tolisten to the portion s/he did not hear when the call was placed onhold.

Some voicemail systems will also terminate the call if they detect thecall has switched to a hold state or if the call remains in the holdstate too long. When the voicemail system terminates the call, thesubscriber is forced to redial and start voicemail processing from afresh start.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 depict exemplary embodiments of a communication system;

FIG. 3 depicts exemplary method operating in portions of thecommunication system; and

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, whenexecuted, may cause the machine to perform any plurality of themethodologies disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storagemedium can have computer instructions for presenting a voicemail serviceto a subscriber, detecting that communications with the subscriber havebeen interrupted, responsive to the detection, recording departure dataassociated with interactions between the subscriber and the voicemailservice, and resuming presentation of the voicemail service according tothe departure data responsive to a resumption of communications with thesubscriber.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a network element can havea controller to inform a voicemail system of an interruption incommunications between a subscriber and the voicemail system in orderfor the voicemail system to record departure data associated withinteractions between the subscriber and the voicemail service.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method can involvedetecting that communications with a subscriber have been interruptedwhile engaged in voicemail processing, and recording a pointer to a laststate of voicemail processing.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication system 100.Communication 100 comprises a calling end point 102 such as a cellphone, cordless phone, or wireline phone coupled to a communicationnetwork 101 such a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP)-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)network, or a hybrid network operating according to an IP MultimediaSubsystem (IMS) architecture. By way of the communication network 101,the calling end point 102 can interface with a voicemail system 104 toretrieve and process voicemail messages. The voicemail system 104 can beconfigured to interface to a circuit-switched (e.g., PSTN) portion ofthe communication network 101, and/or a packet-switched portion (e.g.,SIP or IMS VoIP).

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication system 200employing an IMS network architecture. Communication system 200 can beoverlaid or operably coupled with communication system 100 as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 100. The communication200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 240, a tElephone NUmberMapping (ENUM) server 230, and common network elements of an IMS network250. The IMS network 250 can be coupled to IMS communication devicessuch as an IMS-compliant phones 201, 211, and an IMS-compliant voicemailsystem 104 such as the one referred to earlier in FIG. 1. PSTN devicessuch as a PSTN phone 272 can be accessed by the IMS network 250 by wayof a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) 270 coupled to a PSTN network275.

The IMS communication devices 201, 211, and the PSTN phone 272 can be arepresentative embodiment of the calling end point 102 of FIG. 1, whilethe IMS network 250 can be a representative embodiment of thecommunication network 101 of FIG. 1.

To establish a communication session between phones, the IMS network 250can utilize an originating Serving Call Session Control Function(S-CSCF) 206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries to the ENUMserver 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number to a SIP UniformResource Identifier (URI) if the targeted communication device is IMScompliant. If the targeted communication device is a PSTN device such asreference 272, the ENUM server 230 will respond with an unsuccessfuladdress resolution and the originating S-CSCF 206 will forward the callto the MGCF 270 which connects the call through the PSTN network 275using a common signaling means such as SS7.

In the case where the ENUM server 230 returns a SIP URI, the SIP URI isused by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submit a query to the HSS240 to identify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associated with a targeted IMScommunication device such as IMS CD 211. Once identified, the I-CSCF 207can submit the SIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 214 whichthen identifies a terminating P-CSCF 216 associated with the targetedcommunication device. The P-CSCF 216 can then signal the communicationdevice to establish communications. When the targeted IMS communicationdevice is the voicemail system 104, the ENUM system 230 can beprogrammed to supply a SIP URI to the originating S-CSCF 206 which thenestablishes communications between the originating communication deviceand the voicemail system.

The voicemail system 104 can include an application server 104supporting SIP message processing, and a Voice eXtensible MarkupLanguage (VXML) for interacting with a calling party by way of syntheticspeech, and speech and Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) detection. Thevoicemail system 104 can further include a media server that processesreal-time packet streams conforming to a Real-time Transport Protocol(RTP), and interacts with the application server using SIP and VXML.

In addition to the aforementioned network elements of the IMS network250, there can also be a number of application servers 210 which canprovide a variety of communication services to IMS subscribers. Forexample, the application server 210 can be used to perform originatingtreatment functions on the calling party number received by the S-CSCF206. Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, and/or isrequesting special telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73cancel call forwarding, etc.).

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary method 300 operating in portions of thecommunication system 100. Method 300 can begin with step 302 where acalling party initiates a call to a voicemail system (VMS) 104. Thecalling party in the present instance can be a subscriber of the VMS104. In step 304, the VMS 104 can determine if the calling party matchesdeparture data from a previous call. Departure data can represent arecording of previous interactive states usage between a subscriber andthe VMS 104. Departure data can be used by step 324 in situations wherecommunications with the calling party were interrupted while engagedwith the VMS 104.

Postponing discussion of step 324 for the moment, method 300 can proceedfrom step 304 to step 306 responsive to the VMS 104 detecting that thereis no previous departure history with the calling party. In this step,the application server of the VMS 104 treats the call initiated by thecalling party as a fresh start for voicemail processing. Accordingly theapplication server starts from the beginning of a hierarchy of VXMLpages to present the calling party a synthetic speech driven voicemailprocessing menu. The application server can utilize common recognitiontechnology to process speech and/or keypad responses (e.g., DTMF tones)supplied by the calling party as the calling party navigates through themenu. While the VMS 104 is interacting with the calling party, the VMScan monitor in step 308 communication interruptions according tosignaling messages supplied by the communication network 101 (e.g., SIPor SS7 messages), and/or by monitoring by common means packetized orcircuit-switch voice channels (e.g., RTP, or PSTN channels). Acommunication interruption can represent a dropped call or an instancein which the calling party chooses to place the call with the VMS 104 onhold while answering another call.

While no interruptions are detected in step 308, the VMS 104 continuesvoicemail processing with the calling party in step 306. When acommunication interruption is detected, the VMS 104 proceeds to one ofsteps 310 or 318. For example, the VMS 104 can proceed to step 310 whenthe application server receives a message from the communication network101 such as a SIP Re-INVITE message that indicates the calling party haschosen to place the call with the VMS on hold. Responsive to thismessage, the VMS 104 can proceed to step 310 where the applicationserver can inform the media server with a SIP message of theinterruption, which in turn causes the media server to record departuredata associated with the interactions between the calling party and theVMS at the time of the detected interruption.

The departure data can represent a pointer that can include among otherthings a state of interaction between the subscriber and the VXML callprocessing tree operating in the VMS 104 that presents the speech menureferred to earlier, a message identifier identifying a voicemailmessage recorded by the VMS 104 which was being presented to thesubscriber by the media server at the time the interruption arose,and/or a departure time when communications between the subscriber andthe VMS ceased. In step 312, the media server of the VMS 104 can uselogic in a VXML page to respond to said interruption. For instance, ifthe calling party was being presented a voicemail message, the VXML pagefor processing voicemail messages can be programmed with logic to directthe media server to pause presentation of the voicemail message at adeparture mark recorded thereby and enable a timer that limits the timeresources remain idle. The VMS 104 can also record an identity of thevoicemail message, and a state of the speech menu (or state of VXML pageprocessing) at the time the interruption was detected. With departuredata such as this, the VMS 104 can pause operations from the state atwhich the interruption occurred, or alternatively release resources andreinitiate operations from a last known state recorded in the departuredata.

In step 314, the VMS 104 can check whether a second message (e.g.,another SIP Re-INVITE message) has been received from the communicationnetwork 101 indicating that the call is off hold. If such a message isreceived, the VMS 104 can proceed to step 326 where it resume voicemailprocessing according to the departure data. For example, in step 326 theVMS 104 can retrieve from the departure data a voicemail message ID, anda departure mark to resume presentation of the voicemail message at ornear (e.g., 10 seconds before) the departure mark. If call is on holdfor a while (e.g., 45 seconds) the VMS 104 can present the calling partythe option to resume voicemail processing from the departure point, oran intermediate point (e.g., instead of presenting a voicemail messagefrom the departure mark, the VMS provides the calling party the optionto present the voicemail message from the beginning).

It should be noted that an intermediate point does not mean voicemailprocessing is reset to the beginning of the voicemail processinghierarchy (like one would experience on a call with no departurehistory). Rather an intermediate point can be an adjusted point ofdeparture to accommodate situations in which resuming voicemailprocessing from the departure mark recorded in the departure data maynot be desirable. Accordingly, the intermediate point can be aprogrammable option which can be included in a VXML page to direct themedia server as to how to resume presentation of a voicemail message.

For example, suppose the call between the calling party and the VMS 104was placed on hold for 1 minute 30 seconds, and the interruptionoccurred while listening to a select voicemail message. In thisinstance, a VXML page can include logic to adjust the departure mark ator near the beginning of the voicemail message to assist the callingparty who may have forgotten what s/he heard earlier. Suppose in anotherscenario the call is on hold for only 30 seconds. In this instance, theVXML page can include logic to direct the media server to adjust thedeparture mark only slightly (e.g., 3 seconds) or not at all.

Referring back to step 314, if the VMS 104 does not detect a messageindicating the call is off hold, the VMS can proceed to step 316 todetermine the state of the timer. If the timer has not expired, the VMS104 continues to check for an off hold state. If the timer expires, theVMS 104 can proceed to step 320 where it records a caller ID of thesubscriber (e.g., a SIP URI, or E.164 number) in the departure data. Instep 322, the VMS 104 can terminate the call with the calling party tomake resources available for other subscribers. At this point, the VMS104 ends processing with the calling party and can rely on the recordeddeparture data in step 310 to address voicemail processing with thecalling party on a subsequent call.

Referring back to step 308, if the VMS 104 detects a dropped call from amessage received from the communication network 101 (e.g., a SIPmessage) or by detecting a loss of signal on the bearer channel (e.g.,RTP, or PSTN voice channel), the VMS can proceed to step 318 where itrecords the departure data as previously discussed and the callingparty's number in step 320. Since the call has been terminated, the VMS104 does not need to invoke step 322. Thus, a dropped call and a call onhold exceeding a hold period leads to the same result.

With these principles in mind, the VMS 104 can process new calls fromsubscribers from a historical perspective. For example, suppose thecaller who experienced an interruption in communications with the VMS104 due to an inadvertent dropped call, or who's call was terminated bythe VMS for an excessive hold time redials in step 302. At step 304, theVMS 104 can check for a match between the calling party's caller ID andthe departure data (particularly the caller ID recorded in the departuredata at step 320). If a match is found, the VMS 104 can proceed to step324 where it presents the calling party an offer to resume the voicemailservice from a previous departure state determined from the departuredata.

For example, the VMS 104 might present the calling party the followingmessage: “Good afternoon, it appears that communications wereinterrupted the last time you accessed your voicemail account. Pleasesay ‘yes’ or press ‘1’ if you like to process your voicemail messagesfrom where you left off. Or say ‘no’ or press ‘2’ if you would prefer tostart over.” If the calling party responds in step 325 with a selectionto resume presentation from the departure point, the VMS 104 can proceedto step 326 as previously described. Otherwise if the calling partychooses to start over, the VMS 104 can proceed to step 306 as if thecall were associated with a first time voicemail processing request.

Upon reviewing the embodiments disclosed, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, method 300 can beadapted to operate in a PSTN communication system using SS7 signalinginformation to inform the VMS 104 of call interruptions such as droppedcalls and calls on hold. In yet another embodiment, method 300 can beadapted to resume presentation of voicemail services without adjustingdeparture data. In another embodiment, method 300 can be adapted tochange VXML logic dynamically according to an observed behavior of asubscriber. For instance, the VMS 104 can perform adjustments to thedeparture data based on prior interactions with the subscriber.Similarly, the VMS 104 can extend the on-hold timer using similarbehavioral data.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, thereader is directed to the claims for a fuller understanding of thebreadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 400 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 400 may include a processor 402 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 404 and a static memory 406, which communicate with each othervia a bus 408. The computer system 400 may further include a videodisplay unit 410 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system400 may include an input device 412 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 414 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 416, a signal generationdevice 418 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 420.

The disk drive unit 416 may include a machine-readable medium 422 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 424)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 424may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 404, the static memory 406, and/or within the processor 402during execution thereof by the computer system 400. The main memory 404and the processor 402 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 424, or that which receives and executes instructions 424from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 426 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 426 using the instructions 424. Theinstructions 424 may further be transmitted or received over a network426 via the network interface device 420.

While the machine-readable medium 422 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; andcarrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions ina transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one ormore of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listedherein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, inwhich the software implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium,comprising computer program instructions which, when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:detecting that a presentation of a voicemail message to a subscriber hasbeen interrupted, resulting in an interruption; responsive to thedetecting, recording departure data comprising a departure mark thatcorresponds to the interruption; receiving a selection of an option toresume presentation of voicemail processing from the departure point;adjusting the departure mark based on a duration of the interruption ofthe communications to an intermediate location that is after a beginningof a voicemail message and before a point that corresponds to theinterruption of the communications, wherein an amount by which thedeparture mark is moved toward the beginning of the voicemail message isin direct relation to a length of the interruption; and resumingpresentation of the voicemail service according to the departure databased on the selection of the option.
 27. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 26, further comprising computerprogram instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to perform operations comprising: pausing presentation of thevoicemail message according to the departure mark.
 28. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprisingcomputer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, causethe processor to perform operations comprising: enabling a timer;detecting an expiration of the timer during the interruption; andterminating communications with the subscriber.
 29. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 26, further comprising computerprogram instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to perform operations comprising: detecting the interruptionaccording to one among: receiving a message originating from a networkelement of a communication system establishing communications betweenthe subscriber and a voicemail service; and monitoring interruptions ina bearer channel established by the communication system.
 30. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, further comprisingcomputer program instructions which, when executed by a processor, causethe processor to perform operations comprising: detecting thatcommunications with the subscriber have been changed from an on-holdstate to an off hold state; and responsive to the detecting, resumingpresentation of the voicemail message according to the departure data.31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, furthercomprising computer program instructions which, when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:detecting that the communications with the subscriber are on hold byreceiving from a communication system a first Session InitiationProtocol Re-INVITE message; and detecting that the communications areoff hold by receiving from the communication system a second SessionInitiation Protocol Re-INVITE message.
 32. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the departure datacomprises a pointer to a last session of a voicemail service.
 33. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the pointercomprises at least one among a calling number of the subscriber, a stateof a call processing tree operating in the voicemail service, a messageidentifier identifying a voicemail message recorded by the voicemailservice, and a departure time.
 34. A method comprising: detecting that apresentation of a voicemail message to a subscriber has beeninterrupted, resulting in an interruption; responsive to the detecting,recording departure data comprising a departure mark that corresponds tothe interruption; receiving a selection of an option to resumepresentation of voicemail processing from the departure point; adjustingthe departure mark based on a duration of the interruption of thecommunications to an intermediate location that is after a beginning ofa voicemail message and before a point that corresponds to theinterruption of the communications, wherein an amount by which thedeparture mark is moved toward the beginning of the voicemail message isin direct relation to a length of the interruption; and resumingpresentation of the voicemail service according to the departure databased on the selection of the option.
 35. The method of claim 34,further comprising: pausing presentation of the voicemail messageaccording to the departure mark.
 36. The method of claim 35, furthercomprising: enabling a timer; detecting an expiration of the timerduring the interruption; and terminating communications with thesubscriber.
 37. The method of claim 34, further comprising: detectingthe interruption according to one among: receiving a message originatingfrom a network element of a communication system establishingcommunications between the subscriber and a voicemail service; andmonitoring interruptions in a bearer channel established by thecommunication system.
 38. The method of claim 34, further comprising:detecting that communications with the subscriber have been changed froman on-hold state to an off hold state; and responsive to the detecting,resuming presentation of the voicemail message according to thedeparture data.
 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:detecting that the communications with the subscriber are on hold byreceiving from a communication system a first Session InitiationProtocol Re-INVITE message; and detecting that the communications areoff hold by receiving from the communication system a second SessionInitiation Protocol Re-INVITE message.
 40. The method of claim 34,wherein the departure data comprises a pointer to a last session of avoicemail service.
 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the pointercomprises at least one among a calling number of the subscriber, a stateof a call processing tree operating in the voicemail service, a messageidentifier identifying a voicemail message recorded by the voicemailservice, and a departure time.
 42. An apparatus comprising: a memoryconfigured to store computer program instructions; and a processorcommunicatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured toexecute the computer program instructions, which, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:detecting that a presentation of a voicemail message to a subscriber hasbeen interrupted, resulting in an interruption; recording departure datacomprising a departure mark that corresponds to the interruption, inresponse to the detecting; receiving a selection of an option to resumepresentation of voicemail processing from the departure point; adjustingthe departure mark based on a duration of the interruption of thecommunications to an intermediate location that is after a beginning ofa voicemail message and before a point that corresponds to theinterruption of the communications, wherein an amount by which thedeparture mark is moved toward the beginning of the voicemail message isin direct relation to a length of the interruption; and resumingpresentation of the voicemail service according to the departure databased on the selection of the option.
 43. The apparatus of claim 42,further comprising computer program instructions, which, when executedby the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:pausing presentation of the voicemail message according to the departuremark.
 44. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising computer programinstructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto perform operations comprising: enabling a timer; detecting anexpiration of the timer during the interruption; and terminatingcommunications with the subscriber.
 45. The apparatus of claim 42,further comprising computer program instructions, which, when executedby the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:detecting that communications with the subscriber have been changed froman on-hold state to an off hold state; and resuming presentation of thevoicemail message according to the departure data, in response to thedetecting.